Catherine Cortez-Masto

Catherine Cortez Masto – Life, Career, and Political Impact

Learn about Catherine Cortez Masto — born March 29, 1964 — the American attorney and politician who became Nevada’s first female U.S. Senator, her background, legal and legislative career, values, and influence.

Introduction

Catherine Marie Cortez Masto (born March 29, 1964) is an American lawyer and Democratic politician who has served as the senior United States Senator from Nevada since January 3, 2017.

She is notable for being the first woman elected as a U.S. Senator from Nevada and the first Latina ever elected to the U.S. Senate.

Before her tenure in the Senate, Cortez Masto served two terms (2007–2015) as the Attorney General of Nevada, where she pursued issues such as consumer protection, mortgage fraud, and criminal justice.

In the Senate, she has focused on promoting working-class interests, public safety, health care stability, and environmental policy.

Early Life and Family

Cortez Masto was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is a third-generation Nevadan.

Her parents are Joanna (née Musso) and Manuel “Manny” Cortez. Her mother’s family is of Italian descent, and her father’s family is of Mexican descent.

Her paternal grandfather, Eduardo Cortez, immigrated from Chihuahua, Mexico, and settled in Nevada.

Her father, Manny Cortez, held notable local roles including heading the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and serving as a Clark County Commissioner.

Cortez Masto grew up in a household where her father’s public service and community connections influenced her early exposure to civic life.

She attended Ed W. Clark High School in Las Vegas.

Education & Early Legal Career

After high school, Cortez Masto attended the University of Nevada, Reno, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1986.

She then attended Gonzaga University School of Law, earning a Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1990.

Upon passing the bar, she practiced law in Nevada, working four years in civil law in Las Vegas and two years as a criminal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C.

She was admitted to the Nevada State Bar in 1990, to the U.S. District Court for Nevada in 1991, and to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1994.

In the mid-1990s, she also served as chief of staff to Nevada Governor Bob Miller.

In 2003, she was appointed executive vice chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Attorney General of Nevada (2007–2015)

Elections & Tenure

In 2006, Cortez Masto ran for Nevada Attorney General and defeated Republican Don Chairez, taking office on January 1, 2007.

She was re-elected in 2010, defeating Republican Travis Barrick.

Because of Nevada’s lifetime term limits for the Attorney General office, she could not run for a third term in 2014.

Key Initiatives & High-Profile Actions

During her time as Attorney General, Cortez Masto focused on:

• Consumer protection & mortgage fraud in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

• Legal action and oversight of mortgage modifications, refinancing, and settlements to protect homeowners.

• Investigations into high-level public officials. In 2009, she launched an investigation into Nevada Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki concerning mishandling of the state’s College Savings Trust Fund, though the charges were later dropped.

• Litigation against Bank of America over allegations of deceptive lending and abuses in marketing practices; the case was settled for $750 million in 2012, including lien reductions and short sales.

• Her office initially defended Nevada’s same-sex marriage ban in Sevcik v. Sandoval, but later withdrew the defense following evolving legal rulings.

Her record as Attorney General helped build her reputation as a pragmatic, law-focused public servant bridging legal accountability and consumer rights.

U.S. Senate Career

Election & Historical Significance

When Senator Harry Reid announced his retirement in 2015, he endorsed Cortez Masto as his successor.

In the 2016 Senate election, she narrowly defeated Republican Joe Heck with about 47% to 45% of the vote.

Upon her swearing-in on January 3, 2017, she became the first Latina elected to the U.S. Senate and the first woman to represent Nevada in the Senate.

In 2022, she ran for re-election and won a closely contested race against Republican Adam Laxalt.

Senate Roles & Legislative Focus

As Senator, Cortez Masto holds committee assignments including:

• Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

• Energy and Natural Resources

• Indian Affairs

• Finance

Some of her policy emphases and positions include:

• Advocating clean energy and resisting nuclear waste storage in Yucca Mountain.

• Opposing weak gun regulation; she co-sponsored legislation to ban bump stocks after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, particularly pushing limitations for those on terror watchlists.

• Supporting reproductive rights and opposing rollback of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

• Sponsoring bills to protect home ownership rights for DACA recipients, and reforms to ICE procedures in sensitive locations.

• Voting alignment: as of October 2022, she voted in line with President Joe Biden’s position approximately 92.9% of the time.

• In September 2025, she introduced the Medicare Advantage Prompt Pay Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing delayed billing practices for seniors.

During the January 6, 2021 Capitol breach, Cortez Masto was present on the Senate floor preparing to speak when rioters approached; she and other senators were relocated to a secure location.

Personality, Values, and Public Voice

Cortez Masto’s public persona is grounded in her identity as a Nevadan, with a deep connection to working families, union values, and immigrant heritage.

She often emphasizes faith, family, and service as core to her motivation.

As a trailblazer for Latina representation, she uses her platform to mentor women and people of color in public service and government roles, fostering diversity across offices.

Her political style is often described as pragmatic and centrist—willing to work across the aisle yet firm in her support for progressive values in health, environment, and justice.

Though not as frequently quoted as some public figures, her statements tend toward affirmations of service, accountability, and equity.

Legacy & Influence

Cortez Masto’s legacy is still unfolding, but she already stands out for:

• Historic “firsts”: the first Latina U.S. Senator and first female Senator from Nevada.

• Bridging the legal and legislative worlds: her experience as Attorney General lent institutional credibility that bolsters her role in national policymaking.

• An example for Latina and women of color leadership: serving as a role model in legislative influence and representation.

• Her focus on consumer, housing, and financial fairness positions her as an advocate for everyday citizens rather than elite constituencies.

• Through her narrow 2022 re-election, she demonstrated electoral resilience in a politically competitive swing state, helping preserve Democratic control in the Senate.

Lessons from Catherine Cortez Masto’s Journey

1. Professional foundations strengthen political credibility
   Her years as a practicing attorney and as state Attorney General built a base of competence before entering the Senate.

2. Representation matters
   Breaking boundaries—as a woman and Latina—can open new pathways and bring new voices to national discourse.

3. Balance ambition with service
   Her career is marked not by spectacle, but by focus on legislative, legal, and policy work that addresses constituent needs.

4. Adaptability and resilience
   Running in tight elections, evolving policy priorities, and navigating party dynamics in a polarized environment require flexibility and tenacity.

5. Give back what you gain
   Her efforts to mentor future generations and promote diversity show a commitment to long-term institutional change, not just individual advancement.

Conclusion

Catherine Cortez Masto has charted a path combining legal acumen, public service, historic representation, and policy ambition. From her roots in Las Vegas to the halls of the U.S. Senate, she reflects how grounded leadership, rooted identity, and purposeful advocacy can leave a meaningful impact.

Citation:
Information compiled from her official Senate biography, Wikipedia, the Nevada Attorney General’s website, Ballotpedia, and related public records.